Telephone attachment



.1. A. was 1,745,236

TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT Jan. 28, 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i i f] Fil ed March 31, 1928 Q U al' ni T R16 770 [7771/6 E F, 16

Jan. 28, 1930. E J. A. was 1,745,236

TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT Filed March 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. A. WEIS Jan. 28, 1930,

TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT Filed March 51, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 will! Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT FFEQE JOHN A. WEIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CONVENIENCE PRODUCTS COR- PORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OLE ILLINOIS TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT Application filed March 31, 1928. Serial No. 266,392.

This invention relates to telephone accessories and especially to desk stand accessories. The main objects of the invention are to provide such a device of improved form; to provide a combined receiver holder, brace and writing pad support of novel construction and corresponding enhanced utility; to provide for resilient self adjustment of the hinge supported receiver holding arm transversely of its pivotal axis; to provide for ready vertical adjustment of the arm supporting standard; to prevent or minimize slipping of the brace member where it rests on the table or desk; and to provide such a device adapted for ready manufacture at low cost, substantially in its entirety from sheet material, as for instance pressed steel or iron.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown by the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the attachment as a whole connected to a dial calling style of desk phone, the receiver arm being raised for use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal plan, viewed on the section line 2--2 of Fig. 1 except that the base of the telephone is omitted.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device of: Fig. 1, with the receiver arm restored to its normal position.

Fig. 4c is mainly an enlarged vertical section through the flexible arm and the receiver on the line H of Fig. 3. r Fig. 5 is mainly a vertical axial section through the receiver holding arm and support therefor, said section being curved somewhat to correspond with the arm position represented in Fig. 1 and being parallel with the joint pivot.

sheet-metal member which includes the strut holding the receiver support properly spaced from the desk stand.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the collar which grips the telephone standard and to which the member of Fig. 6 is eventually welded when the device is finished.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of that end of the writing pad support which is clamped to the telephone standard, as in Fig. .2, when Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the unitary the device is assembled, the main body part being broken away.

Fig. 9 represents a process step and shows a plan of the device of Fig. 6 as viewed from a horizontal section line immediately above the horizontal part and with the complementary side sections of the arm spread apart.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged axial section through the joint oi: the receiver holder perpendicular to the hinge pivot.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail of the bearing edge of the brace member, taken substantially as at the base of Fig. 5.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the desk stand 1, of usual design, is equipped with a unitary attachment 2 comprising a combined brace and anti-skid part 3, an arm 4 pivoted thereon at 5 to carry the receiver 6 to and from its listening position, and a support 7 for a pad of writing paper 8; said part 3 having a strut 9 rigidly but detachably secured by a clamp 10 to the phone standard 11 adjacent to its base, and said support having at its rear edge an arm 12 detachably secured to the clamp end of strut 9.

The brace member 3 is of rigid and substantially unitary construction and serves to support the receiver arm a, and to hold the latter properly spaced and positioned relative to the desk stand, and the enlarged base part 1 is formed and adapted to grip the surface of the desk or table on which the device rests and so prevent or minimize slipping or skidding. It serves very eiiectually to prevent tipping over of the desk phone 1 when the receiver is in use as shown on Fig. 1. This part 3 comprises mainly a spun sheet metal shell. forming the base 1%, an upright sheet metal tubular standard 15 secured rigidly base 14 and a telescopically adjustable inner tube 16, preferably of sheet metal construction, to which the arm 4t is secured by the pivot 5. Said member 15 is preferably formed to integrally include the spacing arm or strut 9 and its mode of construction from a sheet metal blank is well. indicated. or sug gested by Figures 6 and 9.

to and set in the top central part of In order to adjust the height of the arm 4 a clamp is provided on the part 3, the member 15 having a pair of arms 17 and 18 struck out and perforated axially to receive the 5 screw 19 which may be rendered effective by the use of a nut 20 or if desired the arm 17 may be threaded as will be understood, though such threads are not actually shown on the drawing. In order that this clamp shall be effectively binding on the inner member 16, the arms extend back substantially half way around the tubular body as is apparent from Figures 6 and 11. The upper end of member 15 is provided with a cylindrical sleeve or ferrule 21 to keep the vertical edges from spreading and to enhance the finished appearance of the device. It is to be understood that the inner member 16 slides freely within the shell 15 except as and when it is held rigidly when set by means of the clamp 17-18 and its screw 19.

In order to augment bearing friction and so prevent slipping of the base 14 when the device is in use the conoidal part 14 is cash 26 ioned with rubber on its under side, as indicated by the elastic band 25 which extends around the outstanding rim or flange 26 of base 14 and embraces its top and bottom sides. It is secured in place by means of a 30 metal ring 27 held close to the flange 26 by reason of being forced down over the adjacent vertical wall part-14 of base 14 where it is firmly set by friction.

In order to positively prevent accidental 36 release of the friction member 25 the flange 26 has a peripheral series of small upwardly struck pointed shoulders 28, which are accommodated by the upwardly disposed hollow bead 29 on ring 27. This cushion 25 assures quiet handling of the device in setting it down and also prevents possible marring of a highly finished desk surface. The inner edge of the under fold of cushion 25 projects inward somewhat at 25 as a relatively free and less tensioned yielding soft-rubber, friction-gripping fly-foot. Consequently the self adjustment feature of the spring arm 4, to be described, is effective without base slippa e curtailing its practical efliciency. The receiver arm 4 comprises a sheet metal core part 30 in combination with a flexible covering 31 which may be of rubber, leather, fabric or other appropriate material. The arm part 30'comprises a rigid base section 30' and a leaf spring outer section 30". These two straight sections are riveted together rigidly at 32 at a slight relative angle 'so as to give the desired curve to the arm as appears in Figures 1, 3 and 4. The hinge at includes a stop shoulder 5 on the part 16 to limit the backward swing of arm 4. The pivot rivet 5 is set tightly enough to provide the desired friction in the joint, so that arm 4 will remain as set in its nearly vertical positions, but will be carried down by gravity on the switch hook when inclined very much. Friction washers are included as will be understood. A resilient receiver clasp also of sheet metal is riveted to the outer end of the spring member as at 34, best shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In order to facilitate ready clamping of the strut 9 to the telephone standard 11, the clamp 10 comprises a short cylindrical sleeve 36 having spaced terminal arms 37 and 38 perforated at 39 and 40 to receive the clamping screw 41, best illustrated by Figures 2 and 7, said ring being permanently attached, when the device is finished, to the forked end of strut 9 as will be apparent from Figure 6. This forked end includes arms 44 and 45, the former having a pocket 46 formed in its inner face to receive the arm 47 of the pad supporting member 12. the other arm 48 of said member being perforated at 50 to register with the aperture 39 in the arm 37. By this arrangement the pad holder is removable upon releasing the screw 41 and withdrawing the arm 47 from the pocket 46 by horizontal, counter-clockwise movement. This will be understood by reference to F igures 2, 6 and 8.

As will be apparent, the device as a whole is adapted for fabrication from sheet metal, substantially in its entirety. The base 14 may be stamped, pressed or spun, the ring 27 stamped or punched, the tube 16 punched, rolled and welded, the upright and strut member 915 punched and then formed and welded, likewise for the pad support 7-12, and the ring 36 and clip 33 may be punched and formed to shape as shown. A little appropriate fitting, riveting, welding and pivoting serves substantially to assemble the device ready for use.

As may be seen the member 915, though very irregular in shape responds readily to the sheet metal blanking method. The upright part 15 has but one seam 52 and the horizontal part 9 two seams, top and bottom, at 53 and 54 respectively.

The device being assembled and connected ready for service appears as shown in Fig. 3, where a dial-calling desk stand is illustrated. lVhen anyone wishes to use the phone, he grasps the receiver 6 with his left hand and swings it up to a suitable listening position, such for instance as shown in Fig. 1 where it is held frictionally and usually assisted somewhat by gravity, usually being swung somewhat past the center of support indicated by the pivot 5. He then presses his left ear against the receiver and presenting his lips to the mouth-piece of the phone, proceeds with dial-calling his party and carrying on the desired conversation, both of his hands being free for manipulating other apparatus or conveniences, such, for instance, as a book, pencil, writing-pad, map, mechanism or possibly a cigar.

Furthermore, if for any reason the user has occasion to stand or to move the telephone about while in use, he may carry the device as a whole in either hand by gripping the standard at 11. In such use the device 2 cannot slip out of place for whatever tendency to slip vertically or to rotate might occur is overcome by the friction in the clamp 10 against the standard 11. WVhen the device is in use, as when held in the hand or when it rests on a table, effective ear adjustment is attained by the yielding pressure of the arm A and receiver 6 in a manner not to be found in any rigid equipment.

Practice has shown that the friction base 14 permits a very substantial adjusting pressure of the ear against the receiver without any upsetting or slippage of the device on the table or other support. The downward bearing of the brace 23 on the desk cooperates with the clamp 10 to prevent the device from slipping out of proper relation to the phone 1.

It is to be understood that wherever permanent attachment of metallic parts is desired, or unification of abutting edges, appropriate welding may be applied, as for instance electric-spot welding, as understood in the art.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A desk telephone a bracket having means ard of the telephone and a receiver carrying arm hinged thereto for swinging manually from a hook controlling position to a listening position and vice versa, said bracket having a downwardly disposed surface gripping brace part to bear on the desk, which part is broad and bell shaped with a yielding surfaced bearing rim, and said arm comprising a laterally yielding fiat spring.

2. A desk telephone attachment comprising a bracket having means to engage the standard of the telephone and a receiver carrying arm hinged thereto for swinging manually from a hook controlling position to a listening position and vice versa, said bracket having a broad and hollow downwardly disposed surface gripping brace part to bear on the desk, which part has a yielding surfaced bearing rim including a rubber band, the inner edge of which appreciably overlaps the adjacent overlying rim part.

S. A desk telephone attachment-comprrs ing a bracket having means to engage the standard of the telephone and a receiver carrying arm comprising a laterally yieldable extension hinged thereto for swinging manu ally from a hook controlling position to a listening position and vice versa, said bracket attachment comprising to engage the stand having a downwardly disposed brace part to bear on the desk, for preventing tipping of said telephone where said arm is subjected to lateral pressure.

4. A desk telephone attachment comprising a bracket having means to engage the standard of the telephone and a receiver carrying arm hinged thereto for swinging manually from a hook controlling position to a listening position and vice versa, said bracket having a downwardly disposed brace part to bear on the desk, in combination with a detachable paper holder, and clamping means formed and adopted to releasably secure in operative position both said holder and said bracket as a whole.

5. A desk telephone attachment comprising a bracket having means to engage the standard of the telephone and a receiver carryin arm of resiliently flexible design for allowing lateral fleXure in one direction transverse to its length hinged thereto for swinging manually in other directions from a hook controlling position to a listening position and vice versa.

6. A desk telephone attachment comprising a bracket having means to engage the standard of the telephone and a receiver carrying arm of resiliently flexible design for allowing lateral flexure in one direction hinged thereto for swinging manually in another d'rection from a hook controlling position to a listening position and vice versa, said bracket having a downwardly disposed friction bearing brace part to bear on the desk.

7. In a device of the character described, a friction-bearing member comprising a sheet metal hollow conoidal base having an outstanding lower rim provided with a tensioned rubber embracing band, the lower inner edge of which extends inward substantially from the ad'acent wall part and provides a relatively free surface gripping ring.

8. A desk stand attachment comprising an upright standard, a strut to space the same from the telephone standard, a vertically adjustable arm support and a receiver carrying arm pivoted to said support, in operative relation to the telephone hook switch.

9. A desk stand attachment comprising an upright standard, a strut to space the same from the telephone standard, and a receiver carrying arm hingedto the first said standard, said strut having means to clampingly engage the telephone standard and the first said standard having a downward, friction face and being adapted to brace the device as a whole and to prevent downward slipping of the attachment on the desk stand.

10. A device of the character described comprising a receiver carrying arm having a laterally yielding spring core and a flexible sleeve covering therefor.

11. A telephone desk stand attachment comprising an arm support adapted for at tachment to the stand and a receiver carrying arm hinged to said support, in operative relation alternatively to the telephone hook switch and to an appropriate listening position, said arm including a rigid part adjacent to the supporting hinge and a resiliently yielding outer part for allowing longitudinal movement of a receiver for positioning the latter relative to the stand.

Signed at Chicago this 8th day of March,

JOHN A. VVEIS. 

